Tie-plate



(No Model.)

S. P. CLARK.

. TIE PLATE.

No. 529,854. Y Patented NOV.- 27, 1894.

Wmwss s.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIGOURNEY FAY CLARK, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

TIE-PLATE.

srncrrrcn'rrorr forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,854, dated November 27, 1894. Application filed January 17, 1894. Serial No. 49'l,l33. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIGOURNEY FAY CLARK,

a citizen of the United States, and a residentof Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tie-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and the construction, and having the various qualities, as hereinafter more particularly set forth and pointed out in the. claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1, is an isometrical perspective view of the upper face of one of myfimproved plates. lar view of the lower face. Fig. 3, is a longitudinal sectional view, illustrating a modification of the bottom spurs; and Figs. 4 and 5, are detail views of further modifications of the bottom spurs.

a, is a tie-plate, thicker at one end than at the other, and preferably tapering or wedge shaped in longitudinal section. This plate is provided at its thinner end with the spike opening I), and has, on its upper face, and at its thicker end, a transverse rib or shoulder c, the top portion of which is curved inwardly,

.as shown. This shoulder is intersected or divided by the spike-opening d, arranged di-.

agonally opposite the opening I), and projecting into the plate a, a slight distance beyond the inner side of shoulder c. The lower face of the plate is formed with a number of projections or spurs e, disposed in any suitable or convenient manner, and straight, perpendicular or abrupt on the side toward the thicker end of the plate, and inclined or tapering toward the inner end thereof. If desired, these spurs may be provided on their Fig. 2, is a simi-' abrupt sides with the groove, recess or cutout e, shown in Fig. 3, or theymay be outwardly inclined as shown in Fig. 4, or curved, instead of abrupt on their outer faces, as shown in Fig. 5,.for a purpose to be presently explained.

In use, the flange of one side of the rail base is laid within the curve of shoulder c, the upper portion of which, of course, overlaps said flange, andprevents the rail from being lifted away from the plate; at the same time relieving the strain upon the head of the spike passing through the opening d; and by elongating the spike-opening b, and having the opening d, project into the plate beyond theinner side of the shoulder a, any inequalities or variations of the base flange of the rail may be compensated for, and a firm and secure engagement of the spike heads therewith assured. The thrust or first principal strain to be borne by the plates, is compressive and oblique, toward the end bearing the shoulder c, and by thickening the plate at this point, its durability is much enhanced, the plate prevented from buckling, and less material need be used in the opposite end. It will also be found that by forming the spurs e, straight or abrupt on the side opposite the direction of the thrust, or by inciining or curving them on said side, both longitudinal displacement of the plate and lateral dis placement of the rails, as well as the lifting action experienced from passing loads, is in a large degree obviated, which latter end is still further conduced when said spurs are inclined, as in Fig. 4, curved as in Fig. 5, or

formed with the recess or'cut-out e, shown in Fig. 3, within-which the wood fibers of the tie become lodged, thus firmly holding the plate in position.

It will be obvious that many changes and alterations may be made in the structure herein shown and described, without departing from the principle and scope of my invention, and involving merely a mechanics skill. I have found, however, that in my construction, as hereinbefore set forth, the metal of theplate is distributed to combine the best results with the least amount of metal, thus making the plate light and strong, and at the same time cheap to manufacture. Nor do I wish to limit myself to any particular degree of taper or incline, which obviously may vary greatly to meet different exigencies.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A railroad tie-plate provided on its lower face with spurs adapted to pass into and beneath a portion of the tie, and prevent lateral and perpendicular displacement, substantially as described.

2. A railroad tie-plate, thicker at one end than at the other, formed on its upper face with an inwardly curving divided shoulder, and on its lower face with a suitable number of spurs adapted to pass into and beneath a portion of the tie, substantially as described.

3. A railroad tie-plate tapering or wedgeshaped in longitudinal section, formed on its upper face with an inwardly curving shoulder, and on its lower face with a suitable number of spurs; aspike-hole located at one side of the center of the plate, dividing the shoulder and extending beyondthe inner side thereof, and a diagonally opposite elongated spike-hole, substantially as described.

4. A railroad tie-plate tapering or wedgeshaped in longitudinal section, formed with an inwardly curving transverse rib on its upper face and at its thicker end; a spike-hole located at one side of the center of the plate, dividing the shoulder and extending beyond the inner edge thereof; an elongated spikehole, arranged diagonally opposite thereto, and spurs formed on the bottom of the plate, adapted to pass into and beneath a portion of the tie, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 15th day of January, A. D. 1894.

SIGOURNEY FAY CLARK. Vitnesses:

FREDERIC CARRAGAN, J. B. TANNER. 

